05/05/2010

Migrants, Flowers and Shag Pile

Visibility at Fionnphort was horrible, Iona was almost lost to view. We'd planned to drive the old road, western coastal route to Salen. Should we?
Loch Beg's marshy end at Pennyghael is always worth a look. We have a parking spot on the grass near the bridge. The passing places are, quite rightly, a no no. A shaggy brown blob looking like an old tree stump, transformed into a juvenile White-tailed Eagle. It took off., made a half hearted pass at a pair of Red breasted Merganser which dived frantically, waited until it had gone and were never seen again. Single Greenshank, Redshank, Curlew and a few handsome summer plumaged Golden Plover were ticked off before departing for the White Tailed Eagle nest. The green tagged female perched nearby, the male on the nest. Only a mile or two further on, on the road to Loch na Kiel, the mist was so thick we made a dodgy turn in a passing place flanked by mud and a slopeboth sides, taking the Craignure road instead.
We found the small area where Butterwort grows, not yet in flower.


Bending over to take a close-up, Pam found - and recognised - three minute Sundew plants. Well done.


Craignure for lunch food, Garmony to view the Sound of Mull - our only Turnstone of the trip - nothing at Fishnish. Couldn't find the garage at Salen and Tobermory was but 8 miles away (Pam said and she was driving), so on we drove. The petrol is in the parking area at the bottom of the hill which leads to the 'largest village on Mull' and offers a good view of the houses made famous in the opening credits to the children's programme, Balamory.



Only one stop on the way back, Grass Point, a very good one too. No traffic behind us so we could stop and listen in the oak woods astride the extremely narrow and steep track. Wood Warbler, Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler and a Tree Pipit announced their presence through song. Lovely.
At the foot of the hill, several Highland cattle were grazing, much too inquisitive for comfort at times, their horns were too near the tyres as they licked the rubber ! An essential part of the scenery.

Mobile Shag-pile




Only half an hour in the small designated parking place to-day. The whole of the area, and all the passing places, has yellow police signs forbidding parking or waiting at any time. The oldest pair of White-tailed Eagles have their nest in the area and someone was successfully prosecuted for disturbance last year.
An unplanned but very enjoyable and successful last day before our departure on the 8.45 ferry to Oban in the morning. We have to be there by 8.15 so have ordered a packed breakfast. Sausage sandwiches and anything else John can find in the fridge ! His words.

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